Inside The Caps Opponent: Jaccob Slavin

As the Caps head into Hurricane city to try and exact some revenge for a loss last night in DC, they are facing a very good young D-core that Carolina has built to shoulder the team for next few seasons.

While Faulk and Hanifin are the flashy names , to me it’s Slavin that is the glue guy holding it all together. Drafted in the 4th round in the 2012 entry draft, Carolina was hoping he would develop and now they have been getting a lot of value from the 120th overall selection. With size and mobility this guy is the prototypical NHL defenceman and arguably has been Carolina’s most complete player on the blueline this season. He can skate and move the puck with ease and while he doesn’t share the point totals as his numerical counterpart (74) on the Caps, he does share some similarities. Maybe not the most physical player back there, but he tends to get the job done.

An excellent penalty kill guy as well, watch for him to try and contain the Capitals dynamic power play and block shots which he has no problem doing. He was the National College Hockey Conference’s rookie of the year as a freshman at Colorado College in 2013-14.

In Washington we know all about underrated players with Nicklas Backstrom leading that list, but in my opinion, Slavin is one the most underrated defenceman in the league. Playing in Carolina with Justin Faulk has something to do with it, but the Caps see the Canes enough to know this guy is the motor turner.